The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-10
TIKI TENNESSEE RIFLES,
ONE OF THE CAVALRY C0MPA-
MES RAISED IN MEMPHIS
During the War, and Which Did
Gallant Service For the
COufederacy.
To the Editors Of the Appeal:

second cavalry company organized
for the Confederacy in Tennessee.
We had during our organization
about 1876 members on our roll, but
we have been unable to learn or re-
member many names who were with
us but short time. Some were
transferred or promoted and few
were killed or died. At one time
we had lib on our roll. Our COM
pauy consisted of about eighty regu-
lar members the greater part of our
time. We went into the battle of
Belmont with 105 members of
our company. 1t was late in the day
before we were landed in the field,
and did but little work. We charged
the enemy to their transfers, gathered
up few stragglers, whom we cap
tured as prisoners, and at night re-
turned to Columbus. One of our
men, before we crossed the river to
enter the fight, shot his little finger
off. 1t was A. d. King, a prize
fighter. The boys said he was the
only coward in our company.
He afterward deserted and soon died.
Resquiescat in pace. When we went
into the army we were all ignorant
of discipline or military tactics, and
continued SO during our organiza-
ton, but a willinger set of men never
answered roll calf or flashed a saber.
We had but few exceptions among
us, either for bravery or the want of
it. They seemed to be Romans, all
of them; and filled with patriotism
and humanity. When we first went
out we had plenty of money and lived
well. Nearly all were in good cir
cumstances, and some rich. We were
quite healthy, and but few
drunkards among us. The ages
the men of of our company
were from IA to GO years old. Will
liam Forrest, Walter Christian and
Joe Harper we're the youngest. They
were but little over Ii years old,
while we had ten or fifteen others
under 19. Barton Richmond was 68
years old. We all felt a paternal rev.
erence for him. He was a good, kind
old gentleman; banker at
home and soldier in the
field. His messmates were
composed of the younger members,
who loved him as a father. While
we were in camp we spent cur time
in cleaning up, attending to our
horses and other camp duties Our
leisure moments we spent singing
and story telling, or listening to the
more interesting discussing some in
teresting topic Of the day, mostly the
subject of the war. We had some
very good singers among us, and
good quartet. Il, p. Robson, w. j.
Rulman, Jack Smith, A. j. Ward
and myself composed our Tyroleaa
band and the whole company as
chorus. The songs which were ia.
vorites were "Twinklipg Star" "0ld
Dog Tray" Home, Sweet Home"
MY Old Kentucky Home" "Old
Folks at Home" DO They Miss Me
at Home" "Sewanee River" BE
Kind to Thy Father" etc. / often
feel the music of those voices of my
old comrades like a floating zephyr
OF distant sounds $50 gently Ger me
stealing" Memory still brings back
the feeling, and | often wonder if my
still living comrades remember them
with as much sadness as | do. By
our association with each other we
soon got an 'inardness" and if there
was any dog in man the camp was the
place to find out. 1t would exc out
in spite of him. Bat we had but
little to complain of on that score.
Some were coarse in their exterior,
but had a good warm heart on the
inside. All were earnest in the cause
they had esroused, and were backing
their JUDGMENTS by their own might
and main. We had members from
nearly every country and every State,
North and South, aud all seemed
cemented together in one common
brotherhood, Among our good
takers was n. B. Forrest, afterwards
Gen. Forrest. He was with US about
two months, when he was called
away from us like Cincinnatus, to
command instead of obey the
orders Of others. A good page of
history could be written of
his campfire entertainments.
He was a very pleasing
and earnest talker; his voice, fac
simiIe OF Charles Kean. He spoke
of raiding the Northwestern States,
and Selling and occupying all the
prominent cities in the States west
of Pennsylvania and New York, and
by an assurance of free use of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers they
would soon become our allies. That
a simultaneous action in that direc-
ton would have the effect of C@ser g
invasion of France and the other
Celtic regions that it was to the in
terest of those States to be annexed
to us, as we consumed what they pro-
duced, and we produced what
brought the revenue from Europe
one was necessary to the other.
While listening to his clear logic our
remembrance of our once happy
homes was softened as by mystic
spell, and our ardor strengthened by
an increased hope of a speedy termi-
nation of war that all OF US would
much rather see averted.
We spent some of our time at tar
get shooting, and had some good
marksmen in our ranks, some de-
serving of special attention. Ross
Haines was probably the best shot.
All had specially OF one kind or
another. John Fields had a funny
way of saying, We'll, this may suit
you, but it does not suit grand
mother" His saying always came
in very appropos. When it was driz-
cling rain or snow, aud we had to
cook our breakfast, John was heard
from, and was sure to hear comments
on his "growl." He earned the good
will of all of his comrades aud the
name of Granny" Fields, and was
remembered by it ever afterward,
especially when we had to undergo
something we did not like. Joe
Luxton and Clinton Klink were the
sleepy heads. They were young and
growing; they were about 10